The regular season for high school football has concluded and the post-season is upon us. Beginning Thursday, because of Friday’s observance of the Veteran’s Day national holiday, opening round playoff games will kickoff throughout the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section.

Announcers Will James & Jim Dimino for Access Sacramento’s Game of the Week.

This live telecast called by Access Sacramento announcers Will James and Jim Dimino beginning at 7:00 pm, may be seen on Comcast channel 17, Consolidated Communications channel 17, and AT&T U-Verse channel 14. The game will only be streamed on the NFHS Network.

Sheldon Head Coach, Joe Cattolico, guided the Huskies through the rugged Delta League en route to another excellent 8-2 record, further confirming Sheldon’s return to prominence as a serious SJS title contender. Sheldon’s only losses were dealt by a pair of heavyweights, #4 seed Jesuit and Nevada state powerhouse, Reno High School.

Cosumnes Oaks ran the gauntlet this year, losing its first three games then slugging its way through a rugged Capital Valley Conference slate to win its last three games and pull even at 5-5 to draw the #11 seed. Despite their unimpressive record this season, the Pack is not to be played short.

Derick Milgrim’s Wolfpack is explosive and has enough punching power to flatten most of the ranked teams on any given night. While in the process of winning its last three games, the Pack continued to play with greater consistency and better execution. Suffice to say, the Wolfpack in Week-11 does not match the impressions some scouts may have formed early in the season.

Collins and Moore each have seven TD receptions. Collins has also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, and an interception for a touchdown. RB Jacob Trach is another big-play back, compiling 1225 total yards and 9 TD as a RB/REC/KR. Collins, Moore, and Trach, and occasionally-used WR/KR Corey Perkins, are important pieces of the puzzle.

Sheldon, with home field advantage and superior statistical accomplishments, appears as a clear favorite in this playoff opener. Nevertheless, the Huskies must bring their A-Game. Should the Wolfpack bring their A-Game as well, such a combo is bound to ignite some exciting fireworks.

This live telecast may be seen on Comcast channel 17, Consolidated Communications channel 17, and AT&T U-Verse channel 14. The game will also be streamed from AccessSacramento.org and on the NFHS Network.

The visiting Wildcats are reeling, perhaps teetering, after having undergone a succession of disruptions that includes an abrupt coaching change just prior to the start of the season, injuries to key players, and being drubbed 25-3 by the Cosumnes Oaks Wolfpack last week at home.

Moreover, Interim Head Coach, Jesse Armas employs an offense that features rotating QBs, Jr. Robert Jones and Sr. Preston Eklund. The alternating duo has combined for more than 1600 yards passing, while Jones has rushed for nearly 200 yards with a 10-yard average and 3 touchdowns. Brothers Sergio Sanchez and Jason Sanchez lead the ground attack, combining for 823 yards and 7 TD.

On the flip side, Antelope Head Coach, Matt Ray, brings his Titans to the table on Senior Night, fresh off a 55-0 destruction of Bella Vista, and poised to defend home field, where Antelope has a near invincible record over the past four seasons at Titan Stadium.

Junior QB Nathan Lucero has played steady at the helm, while the outstanding rushing tandem of Moses Paul and Mhari Roberts have supercharged the offense with a combined 1650 yards and 20 TD.

The Titans allow just 16 ppg., while the Wildcats surrender just 18 ppg. This narrow margin could very well be identical to the final spread in the outcome; a narrow victory for one team and a narrow loss for the other.

For those who wished that last season’s CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division-1 Championship Game at Sacramento State had one more quarter to be played, the next best thing is on the playoff docket for Thanksgiving week Friday when heavyweights Folsom and Elk Grove square-off in a semi-final round marquee match-up of 11-1 teams that’s sure to attract the attention of all area high school football fans.

This live telecast may be seen at 7:00 pm on Comcast Cable channel 17, Consolidated Communications channel 17, and on AT&T U-Verse channel 14. The only live internet stream of the game will be available from the NFHS Network. The broadcast will be re-played Sat. Nov. 26 at 11:00 a.m., Sun. Nov. 27 at 3:00 a.m. and Tues. Nov. 29 at 7:00 p.m. on the same channels. The replay broadcasts will also be streamed on AccessSacramento.org and will be available as video on demand from the NFHS Network.

Still haunted, Chris Nixon’s #3 Herd is out to avenge last year’s bitter defeat, and brings plenty of firepower to get the job done. Senior QB Jayden Machado has maneuvered the Wing-T masterfully and completed 67% of his passes for nearly 2000 yards and 31 TDs. Receivers Jonas McMillan, Gavin Reinwald and Damario McLean have accounted for 102 receptions and 25 TDs, while RBs Zion Thomas and Jalen Brown collectively power the ground game with 1176 yards and 14 TD.